Self Evaluation Form 2015-2016 Polo Ridge Elementary 2015-2016 Self Evaluation Form Polo Ridge Elementary Contact Information School: Address: Learning Community: POLO RIDGE ELEMENTARY 11830 Tom Short Rd., Charlotte, NC 28277 South Learning Community Courier Number: 392 Phone Number: 980-343-0749 Fax Number: 980-343-0785 School Website: http://schools.cms.k12.nc.us/poloridgeES/Pages/Default.aspx Principal: Ms. Nizy John Learning Community Superintendent: Mr. Dennis Queen # Total Students Enrolled: 1,064 Non-Hispanic Race Hispanic African American American Indian Asian Ethnicity More Than One Pacific Islander White General Education Students: Exceptional Children Students: Exceptionality Academically Intellectually Gifted Students Limited English Proficient Students: McKinney Vento 504 Plans Suspensions: Male 582 548 32 37 1 155 12 2 336 % Female 484 457 27 38 3 138 7 1 270 Male 54 51 3.0 3.4 Female 45 42 2.5 3.5 14 13 31.5 25 2 Polo Ridge Elementary 2015-2016 Self Evaluation Form Retentions: 3 Polo Ridge Elementary 2015-2016 Self Evaluation Form What is distinctive about your school? Committed staff members who are willing to go above and beyond for each child Grade A school, with high academic achievement Strong parent involvement who are actively engaged in their child’s education Diverse students who are ready to learn Extra-curricular and co-curricular clubs (during/before and after school) How effective is your school? Highly effective How do you know? -High academic achievement -Professional Learning Community that works collaboratively and communicates effectively -Large School Leadership Team (with parents and community members) and largest PTA membership in the district -Staff committees – data, instructional, grant, character education, academic, media and technology, social etc. -Differentiated instruction to meet the unique academic needs of individual students -Focus on Character education -STEM focus school with an emphasis on Science, Technology and Engineering in all grade levels (K-5) -SMART boards in every classroom, ipads, tablets and other devices that students bring through BYOT -Professional development for staff based on their needs -Strong PTA and parent involvement -Positive school culture What are your school’s notable strengths? Grade A school High academic achievement Positive school culture Strong parent involvement 4 Polo Ridge Elementary 2015-2016 Self Evaluation Form What are your school’s main areas for improvement? Continue to look at individual student data and work with each student so that they reach their highest potential. Guidance on completing the form: Please be evaluative, rather than descriptive, and make your focus outcomes for students. It is recommended that schools utilize their Insight Survey results as a guide. Include references to where the evidence of your self-evaluation can be found, e.g.,"excellent boys’ results in state math tests as shown in annual report to the state”, “parents’ questionnaires from 2010”. Be concise; (for example, use bullet points or note form). Aim to confine your response to no more than eight pages. You are advised to complete section B last, as this section is summative. Please omit sections where you feel that you are not in a position to respond. 5 Polo Ridge Elementary 2015-2016 Self Evaluation Form What approach should we take? Schools have adopted different approaches. In some schools the principal and the leadership team have completed the form as a part of one of their regular meetings. Other schools have devoted part of a faculty meeting as a way of involving all members of staff; this is highly recommended as a means of engaging the whole staff, helping them to prepare for the review and gathering evidence which reflects the work of the whole school. 1. How effective is your school in ensuring high quality achievement for students in all grades, especially in the core subjects? Highly effective How do you know? Push-in services for TD and EC; Flex grouping based on common assessments; TD teachers offers resources and supports all teachers; Professional development offered for all teachers on Socratic seminars, differentiated instruction, balanced literacy and effective ways to integrate technology. Supplemental materials purchased for all grade levels to maximize student achievement Case 21 Item bank purchased to create assessments and collect data to drive instruction In which subjects and grades do students do best, and why? Overall our students do well in all subjects and grades because we plan collaboratively and try to meet the needs of individual students. We work closely with the parents of the students and have support in place for students who are struggling. Our instructional committee plans vertically so that they are aware of school-wide expectations. In which subjects and grades is improvement needed, and what action is currently being taken? Improvement is needed for co-teaching in the resource classrooms. Our EC resource teachers and classroom teachers are planning collaboratively so that the expectations are clear. Our resource teachers are also attending professional development to learn more about co-teaching strategies and to offer support to all teachers who have students with disabilities. Our ESL teacher is full-time this year. She is also offering support within the classroom setting. 6 Polo Ridge Elementary 2015-2016 Self Evaluation Form We are working as a school to increase literacy scores. Based on EOG data, our math scores are higher than literacy scores. Is there evidence of disparities in student achievement by subgroups? If so, what action is being taken? Based on the data from 2014-2015, we need to improve the scores of our students with disabilities, LEP, and African American students. How is your school addressing the specialized needs of EC and LEP students? EC students receive a combination of pull-out and push-in services (inclusion) based on their IEP. LEP students receive services based on their ACCESS and W-APT scores. In addition to that, the literacy facilitators offer support as they see the need. How does your school use student performance data to take and adjust actions to improve student achievement? Teams collaborate, discuss data, differentiate instruction and use common assessments, TRC, DIBELS Next and MAPS assessment to group students and instruct them at their appropriate levels. We also have a data committee. We will also have devoted time to discuss grade level trends and ways to remediate and enrich students. How does your school allocate available resources to improve student learning and achievement? Resources are allocated based on grade level needs. Each grade level turns in their list of needs. PTA and school work collaboratively to provide the resources to the staff and students. 2. How effective is your school in providing a relevant and appropriate curriculum for all students, grades and sub-groups? Very effective How do you know? 7 Polo Ridge Elementary 2015-2016 Self Evaluation Form A large number of our students are proficient in all academic areas. The gap between our sub-groups is smaller compared to the district average. We are continuing to focus on our EC and LEP students. How is alignment with the Common Core and Essential Standards ensured? Through collaborative team planning, vertical conversations, committees, lesson plans turned in to facilitators and administrators. How does your school ensure a broad range of learning experiences? We plan for different learning styles. We also have chess, Science and Math Olympiad, field trips that enrich and extend grade-level curriculum, author visits, Student Council, Discovery Education etc. We teach our students about different continents and countries within the continents, We have a variety of curricular and extra-curricular clubs offered during, before and after school. 3. How effective is the quality of teaching and instruction in ensuring high quality learning, progress and achievement? 8 Polo Ridge Elementary 2015-2016 Self Evaluation Form Very effective How do you know? 90 minute team-planning; vertical planning, committees, data analysis, integration of technology, Science labs, flex grouping of students based on common assessments; literacy support in all grade levels; Quarterly recognition of students. Which are the strongest features of teaching and learning and why? Differentiation of instruction with the support of all the facilitators, including our TD teachers; connecting lessons to 21st century skills and integration of technology consistently to make teaching and learning relevant for all students. What aspects of teaching and learning most need improvement and what action is being taken? Continue to reach the EC, ESL and TD students so that every sub group makes high growth and the achievement gap is closed. Coaching for all teachers and teacher assistants – Differentiated PD is being implemented. How do teachers assess students’ achievement of learning objectives and adjust instruction with assessment information? Common assessments created by the classroom teachers, MAPS testing, DRA, TRC, Reading 3D, Case21 etc. Teachers discuss assessment results during their planning time and work collaboratively to differentiate instruction. 9 Polo Ridge Elementary 2015-2016 Self Evaluation Form 4. How effective is your school in ensuring high quality leadership and management? Highly effective How do you know? Active School Leadership Team, strong PTA that works collaboratively with the administration, everyone holds each other accountable. We put kids first while making decisions. We work in partnership with the parents and other stake-holders to provide all kinds of resources to our students. Which are the strongest aspects and why? Administration is visible, hold high expectations for themselves and the staff, Strong School Leadership Team and PTA. What most needs improvement and what action is being taken? Continue to do walk-throughs and give effective and meaningful feedback to all staff members. 10 Polo Ridge Elementary 2015-2016 Self Evaluation Form 5. How effective is the school in creating a high quality learning environment? Highly effective How do you know? Welcoming school culture; strong professional learning communities; effective communication at all levels; high academic achievement; technology in all classrooms – SMART boards, desktops; ipads, tablets, ipad minis, chrome books, BYOT; Minimum disruption during school hours. Which are the strongest aspects and why? Collaborative grade level teams; strong parental involvement; Active School Leadership Team; Student Council, clubs etc What most needs improvement and what action is being taken? Differentiated professional development for staff depending on their needs; Create opportunities for students to develop leadership skills. These opportunities are being created for staff and students. 11 Polo Ridge Elementary 2015-2016 Self Evaluation Form 6. How effective is the school in establishing a high quality partnership with parents, other schools and the community? Very effective How do you know? We have strong partnerships with area businesses; community organizations; parks and recreation center, YMCA etc. We are involved in several different community service projects: canned food drive, coats for kids, Ashley Park partnership etc. Which are the strongest features of communication between home/school about the school’s work and about each student’s achievement? Why? Weekly emails, newsletters, wikis, connect ed messages etc. We communicate using a variety of mediums to strengthen home-school partnerships. What most needs improvement and what action is being taken? We need to continue to build high quality partnerships with other schools. What aspects of the school’s work to involve parents/guardians and the community in the life of the school work best? Why? Family nights out at local restaurants, Family fitness night involving the YMCA, quarterly recognition of students, parents are present at the school all the time. What needs improvement and what action is being taken? No improvement is needed at this time in this area. 12 Polo Ridge Elementary 2015-2016 Self Evaluation Form 13